^lOORKPnieAL^KETei^ 


f 


♦     * 


1 


rOUNl^ES  OF 

-THE  ORDER  OF  ELKS 


IMOGEN  HOLBROOKVIVI/IN 


ROBERT  ERNEST  COWAN 


CHARLP:S    ALGERNON    SIDNEY    VIVIAN, 

The  foutuler  of  the  "Jolly  Corks"  which  organization 

afterward   became  the   Benevolent  and   Protective 

Order  of   Elks,  with  Vivian  at   its   head. 

Taken  in  San  EVaucisco  at  the 

age  of  tweuty-uine. 


A   BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH 


OF    TUE    1.IFE    OF 


Charles  Algernon  Sidney  Vivian 


FOUNDER  OF  THE  ORDER  OF  ELKS 

TOOETHEH  WITH  ANECDOTES 
AND  REMINISCENCES  OF  HIS 
WORK   AND    TEAYELS      .... 


Imogen    IIolbhook    Vivian 


SAir    Fhan'oisoo 
THE    WHITAKER    &    RAY    COMPANY 


INOOKPOHATED 
1904 


Copyright  1903 

BY 

The  Wuitaker  &  Ray  Co. 


TO 

THE    ELKS 

Whose  glorious  mission  is  to  cheer 

and  uplift,  this  little  volit^ne 

u  req^ectfuUy  dedicated. 


286300 


preface 

It  having  been  suggested  to  me  by  friends 
quite  frequently  that  a  little  volume  containing 
a  biograpliical  sketch  of  Charles  Vivian,  the 
founder  of  the  great  Order  of  Elks,  including 
manj'^  incidents  and  reminiscences  of  travel, 
written  by  his  widow  and  constant  companion 
during  the  last  several  years  of  his  life,  would 
be  acceptable  and  interesting  to  many,  I  have 
decided  to  make  this  humble  effort  with  the 
object  of  perpetuating  the  memory  of  one  whose 
faults  have  long  since  faded  into  the  dim  vista 
of  forgetfuluess  ;  whose  many  virtues  stand  out 
in  bold  relief.  Hoping,  not  without  many  mis- 
givings, that  this  little  book  will  meet  with  some 
recognition  and  approval  by  members  of  the 
Order  and  be  of  use  to  some  extent  in  giving 
them  a  clearer  insight  into  the  true  character 
and  inner  life  of  the  originator. 

A  great  majority,  I  am  sure,  know  very  little 
of  the  man  who  in  1867  first  conceived  the  idea 
of  organizing  a  society  to  promote,  protect  and 
enhance  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  each  other. 

5 


Preface. 


What  nobler,  loftier  sentiment  than  that  con- 
tained in  these  few  words  from  the  original 
constitntion,  the  very  essence  embodied  in  the 
life  and  teachings  of  that  divine  nobility  whose 
mortal  passing  illumined  this  earth  with  the 
glorious  light  of  love  nearh'  two  thousand  years 
ago,  and  whose  benign  and  blessed  influence  has 
steadily  increased  with  each  succeeding  century. 
Charity,  Justice,  Brotherly  Love,  Fidelity — 
what  a  grand  and  solid  foundation  to  build  upon. 
A  rock  impervious  alike  to  the  world's  fiercest 
storms  and  all  the  ever-shifting  sands  of  time, 
and  how  well  has  it  fulfilled  its  destiny  up  to 
the  present  day.  What  glorious  possibilities  for 
the  future!  ^'Vestigia  nulla  retrosiim,^^  hut  excel- 
sior is  the  watchword  blazoned  in  letters  of 
living  truth  upon  the  banners  of  this  great  and 
noble  Order. 

With  these  few  words  of  prt;*face  I  launch  this 
frail  bark,  trusting  it  will  not  be  stranded  upon 
the  shore  of  a  too  stern  and  unfriendly  criticism, 
but  serve  the  purpose,  in  a  way,  of  fulfilling  the 
sincere  desire  of  the  writer. 


€l)arks  Algernon  Silmcjj  Ubion 

3n  illcmoiiam 

^l^ho  niixho  tiuo  6Cabc^>  o^  qta^a^    to   ^toi'U, 
'Si^jo  Mab-zo  oF  gra."i>  vufvetc  Q^eii>  &^n^  oi-v*-, 
3a  gtca^Tct  tfvan  9XapoCeovv, 
Or-  ^e  ^tjfvo  iDrovc-gfvt  fvlo  ouez^tfvz^o-vu, 

SSii't  fvc-  tuCio  pfticPii  ti'p  vut^irvfifcb  care, 
Glitt>  pfaivt>  a  ;>inv^c  o^  pfca;>w^e  tPxere, 

^WPic-^re  ^itu  aiv6  bott&tlul  orcvu  C^u-t   ou«-, 
3>  arcatc^,  noSfct^  far^  tlvavv  aC^. 

3  coti^vt  tPvi^  Atuvtiu,  fouina  ^ou, 

Cl^  fve<vtt»  to  l^id,  &ccai.t<je  fve  hncvv 
"^^c-  c-W'^^^C'  o^  car-c,  tPte-  pa-H  o^  j^^M) 
"^ftc-  pattott  ^avvvt  o^  cfta^te-vveb  p^be, 
"^o  ^a6e  or^  vttotfier-,  t+ouiKj  or^  ofb, 
clKtA  ^avib^  vuci^e  a:>  Pvaivb^  ^t-^-^^  o|  go^b, 
tl  AHiUe  [or  aft,  a  tcar^  [or-   \xH^ 
eJCe-  vve^uet-  cattle b  ojvc-  tear-  to  fatC, 
Soi^e  vuficu   Pic   Goiueb  Pii^  Pieab  avvb  b^cb. 


Chapter  !♦ 


Charles  Algernon  Sidney  Vivian ,  the  founder, 
was  born  in  Exeter,  Devonshire  County,  Eng- 
land, in  1846.  His  father  was  a  clergyman  of 
the  Established  Church,  and  his  early  years 
were  passed  in  comparative  quiet  and  comfort. 
After  his  father's  death  and  during  his  school 
days  his  predilection  and  natural  talent  for  the 
stage  became  apparent,  and  he  finally  drifted 
into  the  dramatic  profession,  being  most  apt  in 
comedy.  His  advancement  was  phenomenal  and 
while  a  mere  boy  he  had  gained  a  position,  as 
a  well-known  critic  said,  in  speaking  of  him, 
"the  like  of  which  many  an  old  head  has  grown 
gray  in  the  eflFort  to  reach." 

In  1867,  hardly  out  of  his  teens,  he  first  came 
to  this  country,  making  a  decided  impression 
wherever  he  appeared,  and  it  was  during  that 
first  visit  to  the  United  States  that  he  founded 
what  is  now  called  "The  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks."  He  soon  returned  to 
England,  but  his  stay  there  was  brief.  Upon 
his  return  to  America  be  appeared  with  great 


Biogfraphy  of  Chas.  A,  S.  Vivian. 


success  in  the  principal  cities  and  finally  landed 
in  San  Francisco  under  the  management  of 
Sheridan  Corbj^n  and  was  later  under  contract 
to  the  late  veteran  California  manager,  Thomas 
McGuire,  at  whose  opera  house  he  created  a  gen- 
uine sensation.  I  well  remember  in  the  gentle- 
men's furnishing  stores  in  San  Francisco  were 
the  Vivian  hats,  Vivian  collars,  Vivian  ties  and 
other  articles  of  apparel,  showing  how  decidedly 
the  rage  he  became  with  the  people  of  the  west 
coast. 

He  organized  a  company  and  played  with 
great  success  throughout  the  Pacific  Coast.  I 
had  been  under  the  tuition  of  Professor  James 
E.  Murdoch  in  Cincinnati,  and  in  the  summer 
at  his  country  home,  Murdoch,  Warren  County, 
Ohio.  I  had  just  returned  to  San  Francisco  and 
was  about  to  give  my  first  dramatic  recital  in 
conjunction  with  Professor  Ebenezer  Knowlton 
at  Brayton  Hall,  Oakland,  Cal.,  when  Manager 
McGuire  introduced  me  to  Mr.  Vivian,  saying, 
could  I  get  him  for  a  song  and  sketch  upon 
my  program  his  name  would  be  a  great  attrac- 
tion. To  this,  Mr.  Vivian  readily  consented, 
but  at  the  time  had  forgotten  that  he  had  a 
previous  engagement  to  sing  at  the  Queen's 
birthday  celebration  at  the  Lick  House,  so  when 


Biogfraphy  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


the  evening  arrived  he  sent  a  substitute  (who, 
by  the  way,  was  entertaining)  and  a  letter  of 
regret  that  a  previous  engagement  which  he  had 
overlooked  should  prevent  him  from  assisting  in 
my  entertainment,  together  with  the  request 
that  he  be  allowed  the  pleasure  of  calling  upon 
me.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  he  did  call,  and 
several  times,  before  again  leaving  the  city. 
Some  time  after  that  he  came  down  from 
Eureka,  Humboldt  Bay,  to  engage  me  for  a 
company  which  he  had  taken  there  to  open  the 
new  opera  house.  I  refused  at  first  positively, 
as  I  had  other  prospects  in  view.  He  came 
again  urging  me  to  accept,  but  I  was  still 
determined  for  business  reasons  to  adhere  to  my 
first  resolve.  The  third  time  he  called  he  said 
that  he  had  made  up  his  mind  that  he  would 
persevere  until  I  accepted.  He  seemed  so  per- 
sistent that  I  weakened  in  my  determination 
and  he  won  the  day. 


15 


Chapter  II. 


"We  made  the  trip  by  boat  to  Eureka.  It  was 
while  en  route  that  he  told  me  of  his  love  from 
the  first,  that  his  heart  had  been  ever  free  until 
the  day  of  our  first  meeting — since  then  entirely 
mine — although  he  explained  to  me  fully  con- 
cerning the  marriage  in  England,  which  occurred 
while  he  was  yet  in  his  teens.  He  stated  that 
this  marriage  was  a  foolish  step,  entirely  ar- 
ranged by  third  parties  and  that  the  divorce 
proceedings  were  then  in  progress  in  the  English 
courts  and  urging  me  to  give  him  my  promise 
that  our  marriage  should  take  place  immediately 
after  the  divorce  was  granted.  I  promised  to 
think  the  matter  over  and  after  some  days  we 
became  engaged.  I  was  some  seven  or  eight 
weeks  with  his  company  when  I  decided  to  give 
dramatic  recitals  in  Southern  California  and  join 
him  later  in  San  Francisco.  He  came  to  me  at 
once  upon  his  arrival  to  inform  me  that  he  was 
a  free  man  and  bringing  with  him  newspaper 
clippings  giving   full   accounts   of  the   divorce 

17 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S,  Vivian. 


which   had  just  been   granted   in    the  English 
courts  and  urging  me  to  fulfill  my  promise. 

The  following  week,  on  July  9,  1876,  we  were 
married  at  the  home  of  my  sister  in  Oakland, 
Cal.,  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Eells,  starting  for  the  East 
at  once,  our  first  stop  being  Eureka,  Nevada, 
where  we  played  to  a  packed  house  at  mining 
town  prices.  From  there  we  went  directly  to 
Salt  Lake  City,  remaining  some  little  time  among 
the  Mormons,  Mr.  Vivian  organizing  a  lodge 
there.  We  then  visited  Ogden,  giving  our  parlor 
entertainments  at  (he  Opera  House  and  playing 
at  many  small  towns  in  Utah.  We  were  then 
intending  to  come  directly  East,  but  at  the  hotel 
in  the  little  town  of  Corrinne  we  met  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  McCormack  of  Helena,  Montana. 
They  were  so  enthusiastic  over  our  entertain- 
ments, which  tliej^  had  attended  at  the  tov/u  hall 
in  Corrinne,  that  thej'^  prevailed  upon  us  to  take 
the  seven  days'  stage  trip  to  Helena  in  the  dead 
of  winter,  assuring  us  that  we  would  be  amply 
rewarded  for  the  hardship  endured  bj^  reaping  a 
golden  harvest  of  dollars.  Acting  upon  their 
advice,  who  knew  full  well  the  necessities  of  the 
under  taking,  Mr.  Vivian  ordered  some  coats 
made  especially  for  the  trip  from  Buffalo  skins 
reaching  to  ou;-  feet,  and  with  fur  caps,  leggings 


Biogfaphy  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


and  mittens ;  also  two  line  robes  belonging  to 
Mr.  McCormack,  that  he  insisted  we  should 
noed,  we  felt  quite  abl3'-  prepared  to  defend 
ourselves  against  the  keen  and  biting  sallies  of 
old  Jack  Frost  when  seen  at  his  best,  doing  his 
heaviest  strokes  in  a  Montana  midwinter. 

So  we  mounted  the  old-fashioned  stage-coach 
at  a  small  town  some  distance  from  Corinne 
armed  cap-a-pie  to  do  battle  with  the  elements 
upon  one  of  the  coldest  days  that  it  has  ever 
been  my  fortune  to  experience.  The  coach,  I 
remember,  was  rather  shy  of  room,  and  by  the 
time  we  were  fairly  situated  with  our  numerous 
wraps,  to  our  embarrassment  several  other  pas- 
sengers gathered  about  with  anxious,  puzzled 
faces  that  seemed  to  &a,y,  "  Where  do  I  get  in  ?  " 
At  which  Mr.  Vivian  jokiugly  remarked  that  as 
we  were  only  one  we  had  no  right  to  take  the 
place  of  six  ;  whereupon  we  minimized  ourselves, 
so  to  speak,  as  much  as  possible,  giving  our 
fellow  passengers  a  chance,  and  started  upon  our 
journey.  About  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  of 
an  uneventful  day,  we  arrived  at  the  station  for 
fupper  and  lodging.  It  was  not  dignified  by 
the  name  of  hotel  and  the  service  and  cuisine 
were  not  of  tlie  kind  to  tempt  the  appetite  of  an 
epicure.     We  partook  but  daintily  of  the  menu 

21 


Bfogfraphy  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


at  the  first  several  stations,  merely  sufficient  to 
fortify  ourselves  against  a  weakness  preceding 
starvation,  which  we  perceptibly  felt  creeping 
over  us  until  about  the  fourth  day,  when  at  one 
halting  and  relay  place  we  sat  down  to  a  really 
well-cooked  and  palatable  dinner,  notwithstand- 
ing the  fact  that  it  was  served  sans  ceremonie. 
One  dish  that  I  particularly  remember,  being  a 
novelty,  was  what  the  waiter  who  gave  us  the 
verbal  bill  of  fare  designated  as  sage-hen.  We 
relished  it  to  a  considerable  extent,  partially 
perhaps,  owing  to  the  stinting  process  which  we 
had  practiced  thus  far  upon  the  trip,  therefore 
we  were  easily  susceptible  to  even  a  slight  im- 
provement in  the  line  of  dietetics.  At  all  of 
those  stations  where  we  spent  the  nights  en  route 
to  Montana  we  were  called  for  breakfast  at  three 
in  the  morning  and  were  well  upon  the  road  at 
four,  in  order  to  cover  as  much  ground  as  pos- 
sible by  daylight.  Our  fellow  passengers  were 
not  always  in  the  best  of  humor  at  being  aroused 
from  their  slumbers  at  that  untimely  hour,  but 
Mr.  Vivian's  unflagging  bonhomie  soon  trans- 
formed them  from  the  grumbling,  much-abused 
pessimists  of  a  few  moments  previous  to  a  very 
merry  party  and  kept  them  well  up  to  the  high 
water  mark  of  good  humor  with  his  sallies  of 

23 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


wit,  anecdotes,  songs,  etc.,  until  kind  Mother 
Nature  warned  us  it  was  rest-time,  by  slowly 
drawing  down  her  sable  shades. 

Thus  passed  each  day  until  we  reached  Vir- 
ginia City,  Montana,  our  first  stopping  place, 
which  was  rather  a  lively  mining  town,  in  which 
we  played  two  evenings  to  large  audiences. 
Then  we  left  for  Helena,  where  we  were  splen- 
didly received,  playing  a  week  to  standing  room 
only.  If  I  remember  correctly,  there  was  then 
no  admission  to  the  theatre  under  $1.50,  while 
$2.00  and  $2.50  was  the  price  for  reserved  seats. 
Mr.  Vivian  was  the  great  attraction  at  the  clubs 
during  our  stay  in  Helena,  as  at  all  other  points, 
and  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  organized  a  lodge 
there.  Many  officers  from  Fort  Shaw  came  over 
to  attend  our  entertainments,  being  very  enthu- 
siastic and  urging  us  to  visit  the  Fort.  By  their 
invitation  and  advice,  together  with  letters  from 
Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  of  Helena  to  the  Commanding 
Officer,  we  started  for  the  Post,  a  long  stage  ride 
from  Helena.  Upon  the  night  of  our  arrival, 
through  the  courtesy  of  Lieut.  Jacobs,  we  were 
consigned  to  his  quarters  and  given  ca7-te  blanche 
to  all  his  belongings.  It  was  about  ten  o'clock 
in  the  evening  when  Mr.  Vivian  betook  himself 
to  the  Officers'  Clubroom  for  a  remedy  which  he 

25 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


felt  sure  would  break  up  a  severe  cold  which  I 
had  contracted  upon  the  trip,  and  called  "  rum 
and  gum."  As  it  seemed  of  remarkable  strength, 
I  protested  against  drinking  it  all,  but  he  insisted 
that  I  must  finish  it  to  have  the  desired  effect, 
(a  little  stroke  of  policy  on  his  part  as  I  after- 
wards had  reason  to  believe)  with  the  under- 
standing that  he  should  read  me  to  sleep  and 
then  he  was  to  retire  also.  I  soon  yielded  to 
the  soothing  influence  of  old  Morpheus  and  sank 
into  that  quiet  sleep  "  that  knits  up  the  ravelled 
sleeve  of  care;"  when  after  having  remained 
oblivious  for  several  hours,  I  awoke  startled  by 
hearing  loud  bursts  of  laughter,  together  with 
the  name  of  Vivian,  which  proceeded  from  the 
Officers'  Clubroom,  located  very  near  our  apart- 
ments. I  called  to  Mr.  Vivian,  but  found  he  was 
not  in  the  room ;  next  glanced  at  my  watch  which 
registered  the  hour  of  five  in  the  morning,  while 
he  was  still  furnishing  the  merriment  in  the 
Officers'  Clubroom.  He  often  related  to  his 
friends  this  little  joke  that  he  had  practiced 
upon  me  with  the  assistance  of  the  ''  cold  rem- 
edy." That  morning  the  wives  of  the  officers 
were  furious  that  their  husbands  should  have 
remained  all  night  at  the  Club,  and  the  Com- 
manding Ofiicer  especially  had  never  before  been 

27 


Biography  of  Chas,  A.  S.  Vivian* 


known  to  do  such  an  undignified  thing.  Each 
one  gave  as  an  excuse  that  he  had  been  sit  tin  jr 
up  with  Vivian.  So  all  the  wives  vowed  speci;il 
vengeance  upon  Vivian,  but  when  they  called 
to  welcome  us  to  the  Post  next  day  and  were 
introduced  to  him,  their  auger  soon  vanished 
under  the  magnetic  spell  of  his  influence.  We 
were  given  an  ovation  at  Fort  Shaw,  being 
royally  entertained  by  the  officers  and  their 
wives.  We  remained  tlirce  wes-ks,  giving  sev- 
eral entertainments  to  largo  audiences  composed 
of  the  elite  of  the  Post  and  private  soldiers,  the 
same  audience  facing  us  each  evening.  The 
theatre,  which  was  large  and  comfortable,  was 
constructed  by  the  soldiers  and  quite  in  the 
rough,  with  little  regard  for  the  artifjtic  details 
of  adornment,  owing,  perhaps,  to  the  fact  that  a 
love  for  the  beautiful  and  artistic  in  environ- 
ment, however  strong,  must  necessarily  be  sacri- 
ficed upon  the  migrator}^  conditions  of  a  soldier's 
life.  I  recall  with  pleasure  the  delightful  days 
spent  there. 


»9 


Chapter  III. 


Our  next  stop  was  Fort  Benton,  where  we 
played  one  night  and  were  finely  entertained 
by  the  Commanding  Officer.  We  then  played 
a  return  engagement  at  Helena  ;  after  that  play- 
ing Butte,  Bozeman,  Missoula  and  Deer  Lodge. 
It  would  not,  perhaps,  be  mal  apropos  to  insert  a 
few  words  from  a  clipping  which  I  happen  to 
have  by  me  from  a  Deer  Lodge  paper,  which 
reflects  but  the  sentiment  entertained  by  press 
and  public  wherever  we  appeared  during  those 
travels. 

"  The  Vivian  Entertainment. — Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Charles  Vivian,  nee  Miss  Imogen  Holbrook, 
arrived  on  Tuesday,  and  on  Wednesday  evening 
gave  their  first  entertainment  at  O'Neill's  Hall, 
which  they  repeated  on  Thursday  evening  with 
change  of  programme  and  large  audiences  both 
evenings.  Although  announced  as  a  parlor  en- 
tertainment, and  presumably  of  like  character 
to  those  of  Plummer  and  Maguire,  it  is  yet  very 
different  from  and  superior  to  the  entertainments 
they  gave.     The  humor  is  not  so  coarse,   the 

31 


CHARLES   ALGERNON   SIDNEY   VIVLAN, 
Taken  at  the  age  of  twenty-five. 


Biogfraphy  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


characterization  not  so  grotesque,  there  is  not  so 
much  reliance  on  "  make  up  "  and  noise,  and  a 
Varger  element  of  song  is  introduced.  Mr.  Vivian 
does  not  essay  the  rendition  of  time-woru  reci- 
tative pieces,  but  tends  more  to  the  humorous 
in  characterizations,  song  and  travesty,  while 
Mrs.  Vivian  varies  the  performance  with  the 
finer  elocutionary  readings.  In  all  respects  it  is 
more  of  the  character  of  a  parlor  entertainment 
than  any  that  have  preceded  it,  and  even  the 
step  songs,  "  Simple  Simon  "  and  ''  Ten  Thou- 
sand Miles  Away  "  are  given  in  a  genteelly  hum- 
orous manner.  Mrs.  Vivian's  recitations  of  "All 
Quiet  Along  the  Potomac  To-night,"  Lewis' 
'•Maniac  Wife"  and  Bret  Harte's  "Idyl  of 
Battle  Hollow,"  were  very  good  and  very  well 
received.  The  lady  is  a  fine  reader  and  ac- 
quitted herself  admirably  in  the  most  difficult 
task  in  the  profession — heavy  recitations  by  a 
lady  on  a  small  stage,  close  to  an  audience  and 
without  the  accessories  of  scenery  and  stage 
eflects.  Vivian  is  immense.  His  character 
sketches  are  all  good,  and  his  after-dinner  speech 
at  the  Agricultural  Association  is  the  neatest 
and  most  artistic  oratorical  extravagauza  we  hav:*, 
seen  on  the  stage.  As  a  stage  vocalist  he  has 
had  no  peer,  nor  even  rival  in  Montana.     "  Jer- 

^3 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


sey  Sam  "  is  alone  an  evening's  entertainment 
of  excellent  flavor,  while  it  is  but  a  gem  in  a 
cluster  of  brilliant  character  songs  and  olios,  in 
which  he  sings  everything  from  a  solo  to  a  whole 
oratorio,  and  initiates  the  audience  in  the  meth- 
ods and  transformations  of  the  lightning  changes 
of  Protean  Artists.  His  wonderful  facial  con- 
trol, cultivated  voice,  thorough  stage  experience, 
pleasing  address  and  versatility  combine  to 
render  his  entertainments  the  most  acceptable 
of  their  character  that  have  been  presented  to 
our  people,  and  they  are  deserving  of  the  best 
commendations  given  them  by  the  press.  Our 
readers  in  neighboring  communities  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vivian  will  visit  should  not  fail  to  see 
them,  and  they  will  always  command  good 
houses  and  hearty  appreciation  in  Deer  Lodge." 
We  next  played  at  Fort  Ellis,  then  Fort 
Buford.  I  review  with  fondest  recollections 
those  charming  summer  days  at  Buford  as  the 
guests  of  Colonel  Orlando  Moore,  who  took  com- 
mand at  that  Post  after  General  Hazen  received 
his  appointment  to  Vienna.  Some  years  after 
Mr.  Vivian's  death  he  called  upon  me  and 
brought  a  necktie  and  scarf  pin  of  Mr.  Vivian's, 
which  we  had  overlooked  in  packing  our  belong- 
ings, and  which  he  had  kept  all  that  time,  as  be 

35 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


said,  with  the  anticipation  of  coming  East  and 
personally  placing  them  in  my  hands.  "What 
memories  they  awakened  of  happy  days  that 
vanished  all  too  quickly !  I  can  never  forget 
that  beautiful  morning  in  July  when  we  quietly 
sailed  down  the  Missouri  and  our  boat  cast 
anchor  at  Buford.  The  only  drawback  to  an 
otherwise  enjoyable  trip  down  the  river  was  the 
vigorous  attack  from  the  most  persistent,  fear- 
less and  sizable  mosquitoes  I  ever  laid  eyes  upon. 
The  Jerseys  are  not  to  be  mentioned  with  them, 
certainly  not  as  peers  ;  and  when  I  state  that 
we  arose  at  three  A.  M.,  passing  the  remainder 
of  the  niglit  upon  deck,  one  can  readily  imagine 
what  our  sufferings  were  ;  but  as  a  propos  to  our 
case,  "  there  is  no  great  loss  without  some  small 
gain,"  as  a  wise  philosopher  insisted,  and  our  gain 
in  this  particular  instance  was  in  beholding  a  most 
glorious  summer  sunrise,  when  Apollo  came  forth 
in  all  his  glory,  sipping  from  the  dews  of  each 
leaf  and  flower  his  morning  beverage,  as  if  to  for- 
tify himself  for  his  triumphal  march  across  the 
heavens.  It  was  a  novel  experience,  such  early 
hours,  (with  the  exception  of  our  previous 
stage  trip  to  Helena)  as  our  business,  also  Mr. 
Vivian's  fondness  for  club  life,  made  our  time 
for  retiring  of  a  necessity  generjilly  in  the  "  wee 

286300 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


sma  "  hours,  leaving  only  the  few  hours  reach- 
ing quite  far  into  the  morning  for  that  most 
effective  of  all  restoratives  "  sore  nature's  bath  " 
— sleep.  As  we  landed  at  Buford,  a  picturesque 
sight  greeted  our  eyes,  a  tribe  of  reallj^  magnifi- 
cent looking  mounted  Indians  came  galloping 
over  the  hills,  the  brilliant  coloring  of  their 
paraphernalia  of  feathers  and  beadwork  standing 
out  in  beautiful  contrast  against  the  dull  back- 
ground of  the  landscape.  The  Captain  took 
great  delight  in  presenting  us  to  the  Chief,  with 
whom  he  seemed  to  be  upon  quite  intimate 
terms,  expounding  upon  his  good  qualities,  at 
which  his  Royal  Highness,  the  big  Indian, 
seemed  deeply  touched.  What  a  magnificent 
production  of  the  ho7no  geni  he  was ;  a  modern 
Hercules,  and  he  was  well  aware  of  his  physical 
attractions,  turning  himself  about  that  we  might 
the  better  study  his  strong  points  with  a  self- 
conscious  air  that  seemed  to  say:  "Am  I  not  an 
object  of  admiration?"  Mr.  Vivian  acknowl- 
edged his  perfections  with  a  nod  and  smile, 
which  was  apparently  very  gratifying.  He 
mounted  his  steed  and  was  off  in  a  flash,  follow- 
ing his  tribe  over  the  hill  and  away  to  the  reser- 
vation, which  was  but  a  short  distance  from 
Buford. 

39 


Chapter  IV. 


Mr.  Vivian  had  letters  of  introduction  to 
Colonel  Moore  and  other  officers,  but  it  being 
only  6:30  in  the  morning,  too  early  to  present 
them,  we  were  driven  to  the  onlj'  place  at  the 
Post  for  the  accommodation  of  strangers,  a  pecu- 
liar, unfinished  building  with  rough  beams  and 
rafters  plainly  visible.  The  landlord,  who 
seemed  to  be  the  man  of  all  work  about  the 
place,  took  our  order  for  breakfast,  and  for  the 
first  time  in  our  lives  we  partook  of  buffalo 
steak.  An  amusing  incident  occurred  about  this 
time.  Just  preceding  our  breakfast,  Mr.  Vivian 
still  suffering  from  the  effects  of  the  wholesale 
raid  of  the  mosquitoes,  thought  he  would  take  a 
short  walk  and  see  if  he  could  gain  entree  to  the 
Officers'  Clubroom  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a 
morning  appetizer.  Although  early  he  found 
the  loyal  boy  knight  of  old  Bacchus  at  his  shrine 
waiting  for  his  morning  devotees.  He  returned 
to  breakfast  feeling  improved  in  spirits  and  with 
an  appetite  that  could  do  justice  even  to  buffalo 
meat.     Later  in  the  day  he  presented  his  letters 

41 


Biogfaphy  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


to  Colonel  Moore,  who  received  us  with  a  whole- 
hearted cordiality  which  I  shall  never  forget, 
and  insisted  that  we  should  take  possession  of 
his  quarters  at  once  as  he  was  alone  in  the  house 
with  servants  and  plenty  of  room.  We  accepted, 
remaining  several  days,  giving  entertainments  at 
the  hall  there  as  usual  and  having  a  very  de- 
lightful time. 

But  to  return  to  my  amusing  incident.  When 
the  officers  appeared  at  their  clubroom  that  morn- 
ing of  our  arrival,  the  somewhat  inquisitive 
mixer  of  the  potations  facetiously  inquired  if 
chaplains  drank  ;  "  for  "  he  continued,  *'  we've 
got  the  jolliest  chaplain  in  the  service.  He's 
awfully  jolly  ;  was  in  here  and  drank  a  good- 
sized  cocktail  before  breakfast."  At  this  the 
officers  exclaimed  with  one  voice :  ''  He's  the 
chaplain  for  ns."  For  it  was  considered  in 
those  days  and  at  those  far-away  posts  quite  the 
proper  thing  to  indulge,  in  a  moderate  way  at 
least,  in  alcoholic  beverages  of  one  kind  or  an- 
other. We  were  called  from  that  time  on  "the 
Chaplain  and  his  wife."  We  were  afterwards  in- 
formed that  they  had  been  expecting  a  new 
chaplain  at  the  Post  for  several  days,  and  as  we 
were  fresh  arrivals,  the  boy  evidently  argued 
that  we  were  the  expected  guests.  Colonel  Moore 

43 


Biogffaphy  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian, 


drove  us  out  to  the  Indian  reservation  before 
leaving,  and  we  renewed  oiir  acquaintance  with 
the  big  Chief.  Mr.  Vivian  and  he  became  great 
friends,  and  at  parting  he  presented  Mr.  Vivian 
with  a  handsome  Indian  pipe,  and  insisted  that 
T  should  accept  a  very  beautiful  piece  of  bead 
work  as  a  souvenir  of  our  visit.  With  sincere 
expressions  of  regret  at  our  departure  from  the 
many  friends  who  escorted  us  to  the  boat  and 
wishing  us  bon  voyage  and  a  hearty  Dieu  vous 
garde,  we  proceeded  upon  our  journey  down  the 
river. 

We  played  in  Bismarck,  Fargo  and  several 
other  places  before  embarking  upon  a  Red  River 
boat  for  Manitoba.  As  we  were  sitting  upon 
the  deck  chatting  and  admiring  the  beauties  of 
nature,  as  viewed  along  the  coast  of  the  Red 
River,  our  attention  was  called  to  an  elk  who 
Beemed  to  be  half  swimming,  half  walking  near 
the  shore,  his  head  and  antlers  well  above  the 
water's  edge.  A  shot  was  fired  at  him  from  the 
boat,  at  which  we  protested,  supported  by  our 
follow  passengers.  Having  frequently  spoken 
of  my  aversion  to  the  name  (Jolly  Corks)  given 
to  the  lodges  which  Mr.  Vivian  was  organizing  at 
different  points  during  our  travels,  it  suddenly 
flashed  upon  my  mind,  inspired  by  the  sight  of 

45 


Biogfraphy  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


the  splendid  head  and  antlers  of  the  animal,  that 
it  would  make  a  beautiful  badge  for  Mr.  Vivian's 
Order.  I  distinctly  remember  suggesting  it  to 
him  at  the  time.  When  told  in  recent  years 
that  the  name  "  Elk  "  was  chosen  a  long  time 
previous  to  that,  I  was  greatly  surprised,  for  I 
have  no  recollection  of  its  having  been  explained 
to  me  by  Mr.  Vivian.  During  our  first  visit 
to  Chicago,  in  1878,  I  distinctly  remember  the 
very  important  meeting,  as  Mr.  Vivian  called 
it,  and  great  night,  when  he  changed  the  name 
of  the  Chicago  Lodge,  to  Elk,  to  please  me, 
he  said,  knowing  my  antipathy  to  the  name 
of  "  Jolly  Corks."  I  had  always  believed  that  I 
was  responsible  for  the  name  "  Elks,"  by  reason 
of  the  foregoing  incident.  I  remember  Mr, 
Vivian  having  told  me,  that  he  was  the  recipient 
of  a  beautiful  badge  from  the  Order,  when  he 
first  founded  it  in  New  York,  but  I  never  saw 
it,  and  was  under  the  impression  that  they  were 
then  called  "  Jolly  Corks."  I  have  since  been 
told  that  it  was  an  "  Elk "  badge.  He  often 
used  to  repeat  to  me  parts  of  the  ritual  which  he 
had  written  for  the  Order,  to  convince  me  of  its 
lofty  purpose,  aud  told  me  it  was  patterned 
somewhat  after  an  Order  of  which  he  had  been  a 
member  in  England.    I  relate  this  little  incident 

47 


CHARLIvS    ALCiERNON   SIDNEY   VIVIAN, 

Taken  in  San  Francisco  at  the  age 
of  twenty-seveu. 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


just  as  it  occurred.  It  may  or  may  not  have 
any  bearing  or  significance  in  the  summing  up, 
po  to  speak,  of  the  earlier  and  unfortunately 
pomewhat  obscure  history  of  the  "  Order  of 
Elks." 

Returning  to  our  journey  up  the  Red  River, 
we  arrived  in  Winnepeg  in  due  season,  where  we 
played  a  week  at  the  Opera  House  to  large  and 
enthusiastic  audiences,  and  met  many  charming 
people.  Among  them  Lord  and  Lady  Duflferin 
and  suite,  who  were  making  a  farewell  tour  of 
the  Canadas.  The  Mayor  of  Winnepeg  urged  us 
to  prolong  our  stay  sufficiently  to  give  an  enter- 
tainment upon  the  oiScial  program,  arranged  by 
the  city  for  the  divertissement  of  the  royal  visitors. 
We  consented  to  do  so,  playing  to  a  large  and 
demonstrative  house,  his  Lordship  and  Lady 
Dufiferin  being  decidedly  appreciative.  At  the 
conclusion  of  the  performance  they  remained, 
requesting  the  Mayor  that  we  be  presented  to 
them,  when  they  expressed  themselves  as  being 
delighted  with  the  entertainment  provided  and 
urged  us  to  visit  Ottawa  before  their  departure 
for  England.  Lady  Dufferin  speaks  very  pleas- 
antly of  our  entertainment  in  her  "Book  of 
Reviews,"  upon  her  American  travels.  Page 
347.     She  says,  '*  In  the   evening   we  went  to 

49 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


a  '  Parlor  Entertainment ' — songs,  speeches,  and 
changes  of  costume — very  well  done  and  amus- 
ing.'' 

We  were  shown  during  our  stay  there  the 
greatest  attention  with  jetes  and  drives  galore, 
while  Mr.  Vivian  was  the  hel  esprit  of  clubs  and 
social  circles  there  as  elsewhere. 

All  the  festivities  were  wound  up  with  ''God 
Save  the  Queen,"  while  the  frequent  and  hearty 
toasts  to  her  Majesty  were  ample  proof  of  the 
never  dying  loyalty  to  his  sovereign  that  exists 
in  the  soul  of  an  Englishman.  One  evening,  I 
remember  at  a  din.ier  given  us  by  Mrs.  Cornish, 
whose  husband  was  a  member  of  Parliment,  at 
the  instigation  of  Mr.  Vivian,  I  ventured  some- 
what timorously  in  proposing  a  toast  to  the 
American  Eagle.  The  spirit  of  the  gathering 
was  80  decidedly  English  that  it  required  a  bit 
of  courage  upon  my  part.  Contrary  to  endeav- 
oring to  stifle  my  American  spirit  of  patriotism, 
all  hands  responded  most  cordially.  SuflBce  it 
to  say  that  after  that  evening  the  toasting  of  the 
American  Eagle  was  quite  in  evidence.  I  re- 
ceived at  the  hotel  during  our  stay  there  many 
braces  of  plover  from  friends  of  Mr.  Vivian  who 
were  enthusiastic  huntsmen ;  also  many  sou- 
venirs from  the  handiwork  of  the  Indians.     Hon. 

51 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  VivJan. 


Mr.  McTeavis  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company, 
who  upon  our  departure  accompanied  us  to  the 
boat  to  wish  us  a  parting  "God  speed,'"  gave  us 
Boiuething  of  a  surprise  when  just  before  leav- 
ing, a  servant  of  his  came  aboard  leading  by 
chain  a  little  black  cub  bear,  a  parting  gift  for 
us,  which  was  not  only  a  black  bear,  but  a  "6e<e 
noir "  before  we,  in  sheer  desperation  at  his 
manoeuvres  decided  to  part  with  him.  Well,  I 
remember  how  the  jioor  little  fellow  frightened 
the  deck  hands  that  night  as  he  was  very  ill 
and  Mr.  Vivian  lost  much  sleep  watching  with 
and  endeavoring  to  alleviate  his  BuflFerings. 


S3 


Chapter  T. 


Our  next  stop  was  Fort  Pembina  where  we 
gave  our  performance  as  usual  and  were  right 
royallj^  entertained.  The  little  cub  had  recov- 
ered from  his  illness  and  was  very  playful,  af- 
fording much  amusement  at  the  Post.  Mr. 
Vivian  had  a  collar  made  for  him  marked  Imo's 
"  Jimmy  Shaw,"  after  a  burlesque  on  oratorio 
which  he  used  to  do  and  knew  was  a  great 
favorite  of  mine.  The  little  fellow  was  very 
cunning  and  full  of  fun  at  first,  but  as  time 
advanced  he  became  unruly  and  quite  beyond 
our  control,  so  we  were  only  too  happy  to  pres- 
ent him  to  a  party  upon  our  return  to  Bismarck, 
who  prided  himself  upon  being  the  proprietor  of 
quite  a  menagerie.  Thus  we  parted  with  the 
quaint  little  quadruped  comedian,  as  we  called 
him  "  Jimmy  Shaw." 

While  in  Bismarck  I  remember  Mr.  Vivian 
started  a  subscription  b}'  putting  down  the  first 
ten  dollars  for  a  proposed  monument  to  the 
brave  soldiers,  to  be  erected  upon  the  spot  where 
they  nobly  sacrificed  their  lives  with  the  gallant 

55 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


Custer  in  that  hloody  battle  with  tlie  Red  men. 
I  have  wondered  if  the  monument  ever  materi- 
alized, never  having  since  been  informed  con- 
cerning it.  We  soon  visited  St.  Paul  and 
Minneapolis,  giving  entertainments  in  both 
cities,  and  shortly  after  left  for  Chicago.  There 
Mr.  Vivian  accepted  an  engagement  upon  a  sal- 
ary, doing  his  songs  and  character  sketches  at 
two  theatres  in  an  evening:  the  Academy  of 
Music  on  the  West  side,  Mr.  William  Emmett, 
Manager;  and  at  Hamblins'  Theatre  upon  the 
East  side.  I  used  to  accompany  him  in  a  car- 
riage from  one  theatre  to  the  other,  remaining 
until  he  had  finished.  The  Owl  Club,  which 
met  in  the  McVicker  Theatre  Building,  was 
then  in  the  height  of  its  popularity  and  Mr. 
Vivian  was,  as  usual,  the  bright,  particular 
spirit  who  attracted  a  coterie  of  what  was  then 
considered  in  Chicago  the  cre7ne  de  la  creme  of  the 
literary  and  other  professions;  and  there  was  a 
small  divxny  of  these  choice  bon  vivants  who 
seemed  to  find  time  amid  all  the  rush  and  whirl 
of  a  busy,  bustling  city,  as  was  this  young  giant 
of  the  middle  West  even  in  those  days,  to 
come  together  at  night,  for  a  few  hours  of 
social  intercourse  and  enjoyment  which  often 
developed  into  a  literary  and  musical  entertain- 

57 


Biogffaphy  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


ment,  and  ver}'  enjoyable  times  they  were.  I 
speak  from  experience,  for  sometimes  they  de- 
parted from  the  proverbial  selfishness  of  the  sex 
where  club  life  is  concerned,  and  condescended 
to  invite  the  daughters  of  Eve  to  partake  of  the 
festivities.  These  condescending  periods  in  the 
otherwise  unmolested  free  and  easy  hours  spent 
largely  worshipping  at  the  shrine  of  old  Momus, 
were  called  "ladies'  nights."  I  remember  at- 
tending one  during  that  stay  in  Chicago,  and  a 
jolly  gathering  it  was.  Every  one  who  could  do 
anything  in  the  way  of  entertaining  was  ex- 
pected to  lend  a  helping  hand.  Julia  Rive  King 
the  celebrated  pianist,  favored  us  v>'ith  a  number 
of  choice  selections ;  Laura  Dainty,  who  was 
then  very  popular  in  Chicago,  gave  some  de- 
lightful recitations,  followed  by  selections  by  the 
writer;  but  after  once  the  call  upon  Mr.  Vivian 
had  been  responded  to,  the  company  would  not 
be  satisfied  short  of  several  hours'  entertainment, 
persisting  in  calling  for  more  and  more  from  his 
inexhaustible  repertoire  of  songs,  sketches  and 
anecdotes.  Beautiful  and  brilliant  Laura  Don, 
who  was  then  leading  lady  at  McVicker's  Theatre 
and  who  has  since  passed  over  to  the  great 
majority,  was  one  of  the  merry  party  that  even- 
ing,  and    seated    next    to    me,   would    almost 

59 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


momentarily  voice  her  enthusiasm  by  exclaim- 
ing, "  Oh,  Mr.  Vivian  is  the  funniest  man  I  ever 
saw," — "He  is  just  great,"  and  similar  expres- 
sions of  appreciation.  The  clock  registered  three 
hours  past  the  minimum  before  we  said  the  final 
good- night,  feeling  that  the  club's  name,  Owl, 
was  not  a  misnomer,  that  night  at  least. 

But  all  these  ever-pleasant  memories  are  not 
untinged  with  feelings  of  sadness  at  the  thought 
of  those  who  then  graced  the  charmed  circle 
with  merry  jest  and  laughter  that  have  since 
been  summoned  from  this  brief  "  span  between 
the  two  eternities  "  into  the  great  unknown,  "  the 
undibcovered  countr}',  from  w^hose  bourne  no 
traveller  returns,"  Life's  panorama  seems  ever 
crowded  with  the  quickly  shifting  scenes  of  the 
light  and  shade,  of  joy  and  woe. 

From  Chicago  we  soon  turned  our  course 
toward  the  rising  sun  and  stopped  in  Pittsburg. 
en  route  to  Philadelphia,  where  vdr.  Vivian 
played  an  engagement.  I  had  friends  in  Alle- 
ghany at  whose  homes  we  were  given  pleasant 
receptions.  I  had  previously  told  them  that 
the}'  could  depend  upon  us  to  assist  them  in  en- 
tertaining the  company.  At  the  first  gathering. 
Mr.  Vivian  very  graciously  responded  to  the 
requests  by  giving  sketch  after  sketch  called  for. 

6i 


Biogfraphy  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


to  the  great  delight  of  all  present,  until  I  called 
for  a  clever  and  original  burlesque  which  he 
used  to  do  and  called  "  The  Concert  Party,''  and 
another  sketch  in  which  he  was  inimitable,  called 
"Old  Man's  After-Dinner  Speech;"  both  of  which 
he  did  not  care  to  do  without  wigs.  So  other 
things  were  substituted  for  that  evening.  Two 
or  three  days  after,  several  of  the  friends  came 
to  call  upon  us,  also  to  invite  us  to  a  social 
gathering  arranged  for  us  at  another  friend's 
home  in  Alleghany,  and  asking  me  quietly  to 
allow  them  to  take  home  the  wigs  that  Mr. 
Vivian  would  want  to  use  in  "The  Concert 
Party"  and  "Old  Man's  After-Dinner  Speech," 
insisting  that  we  should  promise  to  keep  the  fact 
entre  nous;  which  plan  was  successfully  carried 
out. 

When  the  eventful  evening  arrived,  we  were 
ushered  in  a  little  late  to  find  the  house  filled 
with  guests  and  the  few  ladies  who  had  been  let 
into  the  secret  on  the  qui  vive  for  the  time  to 
arrive  to  call  for  the  famous  sketches  from  Mr. 
Vivian's  repertoire.  As  previously  arranged,  one 
of  the  ladies  proposed  them,  when  ^e  offered  the 
same  excuse  as  formerly.  I  immediately  pro- 
duced the  wigs,  which  caused  no  end  of  merri- 
ment.    Mr.  Vivian   protested  at   first  at  being 

63 


CHARLES   ALGURNUX    SIDNEY    \"1V1A.\, 

Taken  in  Philadelphia  1S78,   at  the 
age  of  thirty-Uvo. 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


made  a  montebank,  as  he  expressed  it,  but  the 
little  stroke  of  strategj'  conceruiug  the  wigs  was 
Boon  forgotten  and  he  gave  the  imperrfouations, 
demauding  ihem,  as  well  as  many  others,  to  the 
exceedingly  demonstrative  delight  of  the  com- 
pany. 

Shortly  after  this  we  left  for  Philadelphia, 
giving  our  "  Parlor  Entertainments  "  for  a  week 
at  Concert  Hall  on  Chestnut  Street.  Mr.  Vivian 
next  played  a  short  engagement  in  New  York, 
while  I  left  him  to  visit  a  sister  and  step-father 
in  Vermont.  He  followed  me  in  two  weeks' 
time,  and  we  remained  two  weeks  after  his 
arrival,  during  which  he  was  the  bright  feature 
of  several  social  gatherings  given  in  our  honor. 
I  recall  an  amusing  incident  that  occurred  one 
day.  A  simple-minded,  honest  old  farmer  from 
the  rural  districts,  who  supplied  my  sister's 
household  with  some  of  the  necessaries  of  life, 
was  passing  as  IMr.  Vivian  was  entertaining  my 
step-father  with  a  humorous  anecdote  while 
sitting  on  the  porch.  The  old  man  who  dis- 
pensed the  butter  and  eggs  listened,  convulsed 
with  laughter,  and  upon  its  conclusion,  said: 
"  Gol  darn.  If  I  could  tell  a  story  like  th.U,  I'd 
be  a  play  actor,"  not  knowing  that  Z\[r.  Vivian 
was  in  any  way  connected  with  that  profession. 

6.S 


Biography  of  Chas»  A.  S.  Vivian. 


Upon  bidding  Vermont  friends  farewell  we 
went  directly  to  New  York  and  organized  a 
small  company  for  a  tour  of  New  England,  but 
remained  out  but  a  short  time,  disbanding  in 
Boston;  soon  after  returning  to  New  York,  the 
great  dramatic  mecca  and renc^ezvoMS.  Mr.  Vivian 
then  soon  signed  a  contract  with  James  Duff  for 
the  "Admiral  "  of  the  original  Chicago  produc- 
tion of  Pinafore,  opening  at  McVicker's  Theatre 
and  placing  several  weeks  to  large  business. 
During  this  engagement,  which  was  our  last 
visit  to  Chicago,  Mr.  Vivian  was  in  sucli  con 
stant  demand  at  the  clubs  that  I  do  not  think 
his  average  was  three  hours  out  of  the  twenty- 
four,  devoted  to  the  great  recuperator — sleep. 

I  very  particularly  recall  to  mind  one  evening 
during  that  stay  in  Chicago;  after  having 
devoted  several  hours  each  evening  at  the  close 
of  his  professional  duties  for  a  number  of  suc- 
cessive nights  to  the  Elk  Club,  which  he  had 
previously  organized  there,  he  decided  to  escort 
me  directl}'  home  from  the  theatre  and  remain, 
saying  nothing  should  call  him  away  again  that 
evening;  but  just  as  we  were  comfortably  seated 
at  our  supper,  which  had  been  previously 
ordered,  a  messenger  arrived  with  a  hurry  call 
from  tlie  Lodge,  urging  Mr.  Vivian's  immediate 

67 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


appearance;  to  which  he  replied  that  he  would 
remain  at  home  that  evening.  "We  had  just 
turned  our  atteniou  to  the  reading  aloud  from 
a  hook  in  which  we  were  mutually  interested, 
when  a  second  messenger  was  announced  with 
another  note  from  the  Lodge  with  this  more 
forcihle  than  elegant  wording:  "  For  Heaven's 
sake,  Vivian,  come,  come  quick,  we  are  all  dead. 
Come  and  bring  us  to  life  again."  Mr.  Vivian 
appealed  to  me  to  know  how  he  would  settle 
the  matter,  I  said  very  generously,  "  Go,"  and 
thus  ended  our  pleasant  evening  at  home.  I 
relate  this  as  illustrating  his  irresistible  influence 
and  wonderful  powers  of  entertaining  in  social 
and  club  circles. 

Brilliant,  witty;  possessing  elegance  of  address 
and  that  indefinable  something,  which,  for  the 
lack  of  a  more  fitting  word,  we  will  call  magnet- 
ism ;  of  marked  individuality ;  in  fact,  I  have 
never  met  a  person  who  resembled  him  in  the 
least.  The  Chicago  Tunes  of  March  26,  1880,  in 
an  obituar}^,  said:  "  No  man  in  the  profession 
had  so  wide  a  circle  of  admiring  and  warmly 
attached  friends  among  the  younger  men  of  this 
city.  No  man's  company  was  ever  sought  with 
more  eagerness,  or  more  thoroughly  enjoyed, 
lie  was  a  story  teller  without  equal;    a  wit  and 

69 


Biogfraphy  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


a  songster.  His  fund  of  auecdote  was  rich  and 
inexhaustible,  as  his  power  of  repartee  was 
strong;  nothing  but  his  inborn  carelessness  and 
his  preference  for  the  club  circle  over  his  pro- 
fessional duties  barred  him  from  fortune.  With 
Vivian's  last  breath  went  out  a  life  that  should 
have  been  illustrious.  At  once  a  brilliant 
humorist,  a  man  of  feeling,  a  scholar  and  a  wit. 
So  might  it,  had  fortune  willed  it,  that  his 
genius  had  been  mated  with  never  so  slight  a  gift 
of  management.  It  was  attributable  to  a  defect 
within  hia  nature  for  which  he  was  not  respon- 
sible." 


7X 


Chapter  VI. 


From  Chicago  the  Duff  Company  went  di- 
rectly to  St.  Louis,  opening  at  De  Bars'  Opera 
House,  where  Mr.  Vivian  played  with  great 
success  the  "Admiral  "  in  "  Pinafore,"  and  the 
"  Judge  "  in  "  Trial  by  Jury,"  when  the  Duff 
season  closed.  He  was  engaged  to  play  in  the 
same  characters  at  the  Summer  Theatre,  called 
"  Urhig's  Cave,"  playing  a  number  of  weeks  to 
large  business,  the  audience  being  composed  of 
the  elite  of  the  city  who  were  enthusiastic  in 
the  extreme.  Many  officers  and  families  from 
Jefferson  Barracks  were  constant  attendants 
and  frequent  visitors  at  our  hotel.  After  the 
season  at  Urhig's  Cave  was  closed,  we  gave  an 
evening  at  the  Post  and  at  its  conclusion  were 
tendered  a  reception  by  the  Post  Surgeon  and 
wife,  many  people  from  St.  Louis  having  been 
invited.  It  was  an  enjoyable  affair.  I  visited 
them  a  few  j^ears  since  while  en  route  to  the 
Pacific  Coast,  at  San  Antonio  where  he  was 
stationed  as  Medical  Director  of  the  South 
"NVestern  Division  of  the  Army  Posts,  and  the 

73 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


visit  was  delightfully  reminiscent  of  those 
pleasant  weeks  spent  with  Mr.  Vivian  in  St, 
Louis  in  1879. 

From  St.  Louis  we  proceeded  on  our  west- 
ward course  toward  Denver,  Mr.  Vivian  in  the 
meantime  having  signed  a  contract  with  a 
company  for  •'  Pinafore  "  and  "  Trial  by  Jury," 
playing  Kansas  City,  Topeka,  Laurence  and 
Leavenworth.  After  playing  in  Denver,  the 
company  disbanded.  At  that  time  Leadville 
was  in  the  extreme  height  of  the  gold  excite- 
ment. We  met  friends  from  the  East  who  had 
visited  the  great  camp  and  they  encouraged  us 
in  the  belief  that  we  should  do  well  there.  A 
party  of  gentlemen  who  were  visiting  Denver 
and  about  to  take  the  trip,  urged  Mr.  Vivian  to 
accompany  them  and,  as  the  journey  was  very 
tedious,  the  railroad  not  having  been  completed, 
which  necessitated  a  staging  of  forty  miles,  Mr. 
Vivian  thought  best  to  precede  me  to  do  a  little 
prospecting  (in  the  theatrical  line)  and  ascertain 
if  things  were  favorable  for  an  opening  before 
subjecting  me  to  the  fatigue  of  the  trip.  So  he 
accompanied  the  party  to  that  wonderful  mining 
camp  where  Dame  Fortune  with  her  magic  touch 
smiled  sweetly  upon  the  minority;  while  the 
great  majority  of  those  eager  followers  of  old 

75 


Biography  of  Chas.  A,  S.  Vivian. 


"  Mammon,"  who  willingly  faced  danger,  hard- 
ship and  privation,  led  on  by  the  ever-cheering, 
vitalizing  voice  of  hope,  were  doomed  to  see 
their  cherished  desires  and  aspirations  turned  to 
ashes  by  old  Dame  Fortune  in  satanic  mood. 
What  a  satirist  she  is  ! 

In  a  week  after  Mr.  Vivian's  arrival,  he  had 
concluded  arrangem.ents  and  sent  for  me.  The 
old  amphitheatre  was  renovated  and  changing 
the  name  to  "  Vivian's  Opera  House,"  we  opened 
it  for  legitimate  productions  with  a  very  capable 
company;  among  the  number  being  Joseph  Proc- 
tor, and  daughter  Anna,  who  has  been  almost 
continuously  of  late  years  the  leading  support  of 
Modjeska;  Chas.  Edmunds  and  wife,  Pacific  Coast 
favorites,  and  later  connected  with  Manager 
Maguire's  dramatic  forces  in  the  Northwest;  Mr. 
E.  T,  Sullivan  and  several  others  of  some  note, 
whose  names  I  do  not  recall  at  the  present 
moment.  There  was  really  no  society  in  Lead- 
ville  in  those  days,  or  at  least  not  sufficient  in 
number  to  support  the  legitimate  drama.  Man- 
agers in  Leadville  at  that  time  were  necessitated 
in  catering  to  a  rough  element  of  miners,  if  they 
desired  to  fill  their  coffers.  They  would  crowd 
the  places  of  amusement  only  with  the  well- 
known    understanding    that    they    be    allowed 

77 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


perfect  freedom  iu  the  way  of  smoking  and  being 
served  with  their  favorite  beverages  during  the 
performance,  and  most  of  the  theatres  kept  open 
house  until  the  gray  dawn  of  morning  heralded 
the  approaching  day,  while  the  poor,  exhausted 
entertainers,  the  tinselled  knights  of  Terpsichore 
and  Thalia,  were  only  then  allowed  the  oppor- 
tunity of  retiring  to  the  sf^clusion  necessary  to 
woo  the  much  needed  and  strength  restoring 
ministrations  of  the  dear  old  God  of  Sleep, 
"  Morpheus." 

We  opened  the  theatre,  I  remember,  with  a 
production  of  "  Oliver  Twist,"  Anna  Proctor 
playing  Nancy  Sykes;  E.  P.  Sullivan,  Bill;  Chas. 
Edmunds,  Fagan;  Mr.  Vivian,  the  Artful  Dodger, 
and  the  writer,  the  title  role.  Mr.  Vivian  inter- 
spersed his  impersonation  with  songs,  among 
them,  his  famous  "  Ten  Thousand  Miles  Awaj'," 
which  was,  of  course,  exceedingly  appropriate 
for  the  character.  Crowds  would  nightly  con- 
gregate at  the  box  office,  and  upon  being  in- 
formed that  we  did  not  serve  liquors  or  cigars, 
with  disappointed  look,  would  turn  their  steps 
in  the  direction  of  the  places  where  they  could 
be  entertained  more  to  their  fancy.  Therefore, 
we  were  forced  to  close  for  lack  of  support.  Mr. 
Vivian  was   idle   some   little   time   but   finally 

79 


Biography  of  Chas«  A.  S.  Vivian. 


accepted  an  engagement  at  the  Comique,  subse- 
quently playing  at  Woods'  Theatre  until,  having 
contracted  a  severe  cold,  which  seriously  affected 
his  voice,  he  was  subjected  to  the  necessity  of 
cancelling  his  engagement,  which  was  his  last 
appearance  in  public.  While  playing  there  he 
was  advertised,  as  usual,  by  the  managers  as 
"The  only  Vivian."  Now,  it  happened  that 
there  was  another  gentleman  in  the  mining 
camp  by  the  name  of  Vivian.  One  of  the  Lead- 
ville  papers  stated  one  morning  that  they  saw 
this  other  Vivian  standing  in  front  of  the  posters 
by  the  theatre  with  a  somewhat  dejected  expres- 
sion, as  he  was  heard  to  remark:  **  Well,  if  that 
is  the  only  Vivian,  who  the  devil  am  I?"  and 
then  he  sorrowfully  turned  his  steps  toward 
Evergreen  Cemetery.  We  afterwards  met  the 
gentleman  and  he  and  Mr.  Vivian  became  great 
friends.  We  were  given  a  dinner  party  at  his 
bouse,  which  was  a  very  pleasant  affair.  Before 
the  festivities,  in  which  Mr.  Vivian  was  the 
feature,  came  to  a  close,  our  host  declared  that 
the  posters  were  strictly  correct,  that  there  was 
only  one  Vivian  and  that  was  Charles  Vivian. 

Mr.  Vivian  often  talked  to  me  of  his  brother 
George,  always  alluding  to  him  in  the  most 
affectionate   terms   and   looking   forward    with 

8i 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


pleasure  to  the  liir.c  when  he  should  take  me  to 
England  to  meet  him.  About  a  month  previous 
to  his  fatal  illness  we  attended  the  Taber  Opera 
House  one  Sunday  evening  to  listen  to  a  sermon 
upon  the  future  life  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ma(;kay,  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  who  subsequently  officiated 
at  his  funeral.  After  returning  home  we  con- 
versed until  very  late,  Mr.  Vivian  being  in  a 
more  serious  frame  of  mind  than  I  had  ever 
knoW'U  him.  He  suddenly  startled  me  bj^  say- 
ing: '*  My  dear,  I  shall  never  leave  Leadville 
alive."  I  could  not  endure  that  he  should  even 
speak  of  death,  although  never  thinking  for  an 
instant  that  such  an  event  would  take  place, 
and  that  his  prophetic  words  would  be  fulfilled. 
He  was  ever  so  full  of  life  and  spirit,  which 
made  it  more  difficult  to  imagine  him  as  a  vic- 
tim of  the  dread  reaper.  I  merely  said  to  him: 
"  Such  a  thing  cannot  be;  let  us  talk  of  something 
else."  He  spoke  to  me  again  that  night  of  his 
brother  George,  and  said:  "  I  want  you  to  see 
him,  sometime,  if  possible,  and  tell  him  all  about 
the  last  years  of  my  life.  I  know  you  will  like 
him  for  he  possesses  all  the  endearing  qualities 
that  were  my  father's." 

He  talked  much  of  his  father,  of  whom  he  had 
been  devotedly  fond  and  whose  memory  he  ever 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


held  in  sacred  reverence,  almost  akin  to  worship. 
He  never  tired  in  describing  to  me  the  long 
walks  by  the  sea  he  used  to  take  in  boyhood 
diiys  by  his  father's  side,  near  Exeter,  in  fair 
Devonshire,  alwaj's  alluding  to  him  in  the  most 
affectionate  terms,  with  fond  remembrance  of 
those  delightful  hours  spent  in  pleasant  and  in- 
structive conversation  as  they  walked  the  sea- 
girt shores  of  old  England.  There  was  not  a 
rock  or  a  cliff  that  he  did  not  know  for  miles 
around.  We  often  met  his  countrymen  in  the 
Canadas,  and  other  parts,  who  considered  it 
astonishing  that  he  was  so  familiar  with  almost 
every  foot  of  English  earth.  He  often  related 
anecdotes  in  the  provincial  dialect  that  were 
very  amusing.  He  was  thoroughly  versed  in 
English  history  as  well  as  all  European,  and 
kept  well  in  touch  with  all  the  leading  topics  of 
the  day. 


85 


Chapter  Til. 


Contrary  to  his  usual  robust  health,  from  the 
first  of  our  sojourn  in  Leadville  he.  had  suffered 
much  with  a  cold,  that  threatening  prelude  to 
the  dread  disease  pneumonia,  which  in  his  case, 
terminated  so  fatally.  One  evening,  a  week  be- 
fore his  death,  he  was  entertaining  a  party  of 
Eastern  friends  at  a  clubhouse  called  Chapin 
and  Gores,  which  was  directly  opposite  the 
theatre  where  he  had  been  previously  engaged, 
so  he  told  me  not  to  look  for  him  until  rather 
late,  and  I  felt  no  uneasiness  at  his  non-appear- 
ance until  long  after  the  clock  had  struck  one, 
when  I  became  slightly  impatient,  listening  for 
his  footstep  and  tlie  peculiar  low  whistle,  the 
intonation  so  unlike  any  I  have  ever  heard,  by 
which  he  always  used  to  give  me  the  signal  of 
his  approach.  I  listened  aiixiouslj'  as  the  time- 
piece called  the  hours  two,  three,  four  and  five, 
then  I  became  thoroughly  alarmed  and  at  six 
o'clock  a  messenger  arrived  with  word  for  me 
to  come  as  soon  as  possible  to  the  clubhouse  of 
Chapin  and  Gore,  as  Mr.  Vivian  had  been  taken 

87 


CHARLES   ALGERNON   SIDNEY   VIVLAN, 

At  the  age  of  thirty-four  as  the  "Admiral  "  in  the  original 
Chicago  production  of  Gilbert  ^   Sullivan's  "  Pina- 
fore," McVicker's  Theatre,  fall  of  1879. 


Biog:faphy  of  Chas,  A,  S.  Vivian, 


seriously  ill  at  1  : 30;  liad  sent  no  word  before  as 
they  had  hoped  every  moment  to  be  able  to 
bring  him  home,  but  instead  of  improving  he 
grew  rapidly  worse.  I  hastened  to  the  place 
and  found  him  in  a  terrible  fever;  with  the  aid 
of  physicians  and  friends  I  managed  to  lift  him 
into  a  carriage  and  started  for  our  apartments, 
I  never  beheld  such  a  change  in  a  person  in  so 
brief  a  space  of  time  as  had  taken  place  in  him. 
He  was  not  even  able  to  hold  up  his  head,  but 
leaned  upon  my  shoulder,  perfectly  helpless,  the 
friends  lifting  him  from  the  carriage  to  the  bed, 
as  he  was  unable  to  take  a  step.  We  had  the 
best  medical  aid  to  be  procured  there;  all  of  the 
physicians,  as  they  were  all  friends,  being  very 
attentive.  Upon  the  fourth  day  he  seemed 
quite  comfortable. 

As  friends  came  in  to  chat  with  him,  I  ar- 
ranged his  pillows  at  the  back  for  a  change 
that  placed  him  in  almost  a  sitting  position  and 
as  I  had  not  left  his  side  for  the  four  days  and 
nights  since  he  was  taken  down,  he  insisted  that 
while  the  friends  were  with  him,  I  should  take 
advantage  of  the  situation  and  walk  out  for  a 
little  fresh  air,  which  I  did,  being  gone  perhaps 
twenty  minutes.  Upon  my  return  ho  was  chat- 
ting   pleasantly,   as   I  had   left   him,    when    I 

89 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


stepped  into  another  room  to  leave  orders  with 
the  landlady  about  preparing  some  oysters  which 
I  had  procured  while  out,  as  he  had  expressed  a 
desire  for  them.  I  was  suddenly  called  to  his 
side  by  the  friends  and  found  him  in  a  terrible 
convulsion.  I  was  in  despair,  for  his  appearance 
was  such  that  I  thought  death  was  but  a  ques- 
tion of  a  few  moments.  One  of  the  friends 
rushed  for  the  doctors  while  the  landlady  pre- 
pared mustards  as  rapidly  as  possible,  one  of 
v.'hich  I  held  at  the  base  of  the  brain  as  she  had 
suggested.  After  a  few  moments  the  muscles 
began  to  relax  and  he  came  out  of  that  dreadful 
spasm;  but  his  fever  rose  so  rapidly  that  it  was 
useless  to  endeavor  the  counting  of  his  pulse. 

I  had  felt  sure  of  his  recovery  until  that  ter- 
rible convulsion.  From  that  time  on  I  feared  that 
he  was  a  doomed  man.  but  still  I  hoped  and 
kept  on  hoping  almost  to  the  bitter  end.  After 
that  he  was  irrational  much  of  the  time,  but 
seemed  to  know  me,  and  was  always  contented 
while  I  held  his  haudf;  and  administered  his 
medicine.  At  twelve  o'clock  upon  the  night  of 
his  death,  he  drew  me  down  to  him,  kissing  me 
mau}'^  times  and  whispering  endearing  words, 
with  a  look  that  fully  assured  me  that  he  was 
aware  that  the  end  was  near,  and  thus  lie  sank 

91 


B}og:faphy  of  Chas.  A.  S,  Vivian. 


into  a  comatose  condition  which  continued  until 
the  last  sigh  of  that  breath  which  had  pro- 
claimed the  mortal  was  extinguished  forever, 
at  ten  minutes  before  four  o'clock  upon  that 
wild  March  morning  of  the  20th  inst.,  1880. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  at  the  Taber 
Opera  House,  and  the  largest  ever  known  in 
Leadville.  A.11  the  secret  societies,  the  entire 
dramatic  profession,  while  the  population  turned 
out  en  masse,  thousands  being  unable  to  gain 
entrance  to  the  building,  while  every  available 
equipage  had  been  engaged  to  follow  the  pro- 
cession to  the  cemetery.  All  the  bands  of  the 
town  wiih  muffled  drums  played  sad  funeral 
dirges.  After  the  gervices  were  over  at  the 
grave,  while  sadly  marching  h(tmeward,  they 
struck  up  Mr.  Vivian's  famous  **  Ten  Thousand 
Miles  Away,"  and  played  many  other  airs  from 
his  repertoire  of  songs. 

The  Leadville  Chronwle,  speaking  of  him,  said: 

And  after  all  came  Lile,  and  lastly,  Death, 
Death  with  most  grim  and  grisly  visage  seen. 
Yet  he  is  nothing  but  parting  of  the  breath, 
Nor  aught  to  see,  but  like  a  shake,  to  ween, 
Unbodied,  unsouled,  unheard,  unseen. 

Vivian,   the  generous,   Vivian,  the  talented, 

Vivian,  the  only  Vivian.     How  true  that  term 

now  seems. 

93 


-Biography  of  Clias.  A,  S.  Vivi.m. 


Charles  Vivian  is  uo  more.  The  last  sigh  of 
that  breath  which  gave  life  to  many  a  merry 
jest,  many  a  kind  word  and  pleasant  song,  de- 
parted from  the  body  at  ten  minutes  before  four 
o'clock,  this  morning.  He  was  a  man  of  many 
friends,  whom  his  kindly  nature  and  genial 
manners  drew  toward  him,  and  many  a  tear 
has  been  today  in  the  ej^es  of  strong  men,  who 
will  miss  his  cheery  voice  and  sincerely  regret 
his  taki'^'^  oft'. 

Brilliant,  witty,  educated,  intelligent,  the 
sonl  of  conviviality,  his  very  presence  entlmsed 
the  dullest  company'  from  the  first  moment  of 
his  appearance,  with  a  life  and  spirit  unimagin- 
able to  those  unacquainted  with  him.  He  has 
no  successor  in  either  stage  or  social  circles.  A 
void  is  left  in  the  latter  which  will  remain 
forever." 

I  was  given  a  benefit  there  at  the  theatre 
where  Mr.  Vivian  had  been  playiug,  which 
netted  something  over  four  hundred  dollars,  the 
largest  part  of  it  going  to  settle  the  funeral 
expenses  and  other  necessary  bills  contracted 
during  Mr.  Vivian's  illness.  I  selected  a 
metallic  casket,  and  the  best  that  could  be  pro- 
cured in  Leadville,  as  it  had  been  my  intention 
to  have  him  removed  when  able.     The  cost  was 

95 


Bxoo;i'aphy  cf  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


about  two  hundred  dollars,  which  I  paid  Nelson 
and  Craig,  the  undertakers,  from  the  benefit 
monej'.  I  think  they  are  still  in  Leadville.  I 
rpeak  of  this  as  it  has  been  erroneously  stated 
that  it  was  $600  and  presumably  paid  for  by  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Vivian's  illness  was  of  just  seven  days' 
duration  and  I  was  never  absent  from  his  side 
by  day  or  night,  with  the  exception  of  the  few 
moments  the  day  that  he  had  urged  me  to  take 
the  walk.  I  mention  this  fact,  for  I  have  been 
frequently  asked  if  I  was  with  Mr.  Vivian  at 
the  time  of  his  death. 

So  closed  the  earthly  career  of  a  remarkable 
personality,  stricken  down  in  the  full  strength 
of  early  manhood,  ere  yet  the  horizon  of  life  had 
been  sighted  from  the  dim  and  far-off  distance. 
His  unusual  temperament,  his  exceptional  and 
strongly  marked  individuality  debar  him  some- 
what from  criticism  along  the  usual  conven- 
tional lines.  Lovable,  affectionate,  but  impet- 
uous in  the  extreme.  He  took  no  time  to  count 
the  cost,  therefore  his  actions  were  not  leni- 
pered  by  cool  calculation  and  prudence.  Frigid 
caution,  with  calm  and  measured  step,  had  no 
place  in  the  formula  of  this  rare  spirit.  Spon- 
taneity, warmth  of  feeling  and  confidence  in  those 

97 


Biography  of  Chas.  A.  S.  Vivian. 


about  him,  were  dominant  characteristics  of  his 
nature.  He  was  quick  to  anger,  but  as  quick 
to  forgive.  Whether  his  life  was  spent  profit- 
ably or  not  is  perhaps  an  open  question,  as 
much  depends  upon  the  point  of  view.  In 
answering  in  the  atBrmative,  I  perhaps  acknowl- 
edge a  paradox.  If  looking  from  a  financial 
standpoint,  certainly  one  must  answer  in  the 
negative,  but  money  getting,  prompted  bj'  per- 
sonal greed,  seems  a  decidedly  selfish  and  sordid 
occupation.  If  the  purpose  is  to  be  the  better 
able  to  benefit  humanity  it  becomes  praise- 
worthy. 

The  greater  part  of  Charles  Vivian's  life  was 
spent  in  his  endeavors  to  make  others  happy, 
and  those  who  remember  him  best  can  testify  as 
to  how  well  he  succeeded  in  enabling  them  for  a 
time,  at  least,  to  forget  the  trials  and  cares  of 
every-day  life,  while  listening  to  this  prince  of 
entertainers.  That  he  sacrificed  himself  pro- 
fessionally and  financially  upon  the  altar  of  the 
club  and  social  circle,  there  is  not  the  shadow  of 
a  doubt.  In  being  able  to  give  others  pleasure, 
he  best  pleased  himself;  with  all  his  brilliancj'' 
and  talent,  in  money  matters  he  was  like  a 
child  and  as  fully  irresponsible.  He  instinctively 
obeyed    the    scriptural    injunction,   "Take    no 

99 


Biogfraphy  of  Chas.  A.  S»  Vivian, 


thought  for  the  morrow,"  to  the  letter.  ^'Dum 
vivimus  vivamus  "  was  stamped  upon  bis  coat  of 
arms  and  to  its  sentiment  he  was  ever  loyal. 
The  more  practical  advice,  "  Put  money  in 
thy  purse,"  which,  when  followed,  less  often 
leads  to  humiliation  and  disaster,  he  heeded 
not. 

He  was  always  a  leader  in  club  circles,  never 
a  follower,  yet  not  from  any  amour  propre,  but 
owing  to  his  wonderful  gift  of  entertaining;  his 
recognized  superiority  in  such  matters;  his 
strong  personal  magnetism,  and  the  preference 
of  his  fellows. 

In  closing  will  state  that  whatever  I  have 
written  of  him  is  at  least  sincere.  I  have  spoken 
of  him  as  I  knew  him.  As  is  generally  known, 
Mr.  Vivian's  remains  were  removed  from  Lead- 
ville  by  the  Elks  and  reinterred  in  the  "Elks' 
Rest,"  at  Mt.  Hope  Cemetery,  Boston,  April  28, 
1899. 

"Requiescat  in  Pace." 


TO 


ffiljarks  TUgcrnon  SitJitcji  lliinan 

filPi!      '3\iaM^\4  <x  ^oiU  ^t-j  ^^^'^f  ayib  Ctxt^e, 
^JsPirovuti    out'  oF   tiuic,  iiv  bi^cot^b  ^uitfi  the 

cF  I'^vu  vuit. 


^^-H^'Vuitti'M-a^'tj,   I've    tc(t  fvto    fauaPiiua    i-wi^- 


0^!       cllf  too  ^licP  itv  tT-ait5ii'i4-, 

§Sctvuccii  tPve  i'HJO  C'tcMvvt'lC'3,  tPv  u  >par-IVfivv<^ 

spirit  5  penile 
0VV  tfvio  dd/b   eo/rtlv.       Cl  cKiiicj^   Hiigfit    cih>y 

eFot  t^nizth  a^ib    ia-u^a^icz-   ifioti  bib^l"  €t5Ci^ 
cau:ie. 

Imogen  Holbrook  Vivian. 


T03 


List  of  Miscellaneous  Publications 

...OF... 

THE  WHITAKER  &  RAY  COMPANY 

San  Francisco 
Complete  Descriptive  Circular  sent  on  application 

Postpaid  Prices 

Adventures  of  a  Tenderfoot— H.  H.  Sauber         -       -       -       -       -  $1 00 

About  Dante— Mrs.  Frances  Sanborn     ...--..  100 

Among  the  Redwoods — Poems — Lillian  H.  Shuey        -       -       -       -  25 

Beyond  the  Gates  of  Care — Herbert  Bashford  -----  1  00 

Backsheesh— Book  of  Travels— Mrs.  William  Beckman      -       -       -  1  §0 

California  and  the  Californians— David  Starr  Jordan     -       -       -  25 
Care  and  Culture  of  Men— David  Starr  Jordan      -       -       -       -       -150 

Chants  for  the  Boer— Joaquin  Miller     -------  25 

Complete  Poetical  Works  of  Joaquin  Miller 2  50 

Crumbs  of  Comfort— AllieM.  Felker             100 

California's  Transition  Period— S.  H.  Willey 1  00 

Doctor  Jones'  Picnic— S.  E.  Chapman         ------  75 

Delphine  and  Other  Poems— L.  Adda  Nichols      -       -       -       -       -  1  00 

Educational  Questions— W.  C.  Doub -       -  1  00 

Forty-Nine— Song — Lelia  France        --------  10 

Forget-Me-Nots— Lillian  L.  Page 50 

Guide  to  Mexico — Christobal  Hidalgo       -------  50 

Hail  California— Song— Josephine  Gro         ------  10 

History  of  Hov?ard  Presbyterian  Church— S.  H.  Willey         -       -  1  00 

Life — Book  of  Essays— John  R.  Rogers 100 

Love  and  Law— Thos.  P.  Bailey 25 

Lyrics  of  the  Golden  West— W.  D.  Crahb 1  00 

Main  Points— Rev.  Chas-  R.  Brown 1  25 

Man  Who  Might  Have  Been— Rev.  Robt.  Wliitakt.r         .       -       -  25 

Matka  and  Kotik— David  Starr  Jordan 150 

Modern  Argonaut — L.  B.  Davis      --- 100 

Missions  of  Neuva  California— Chas.  F.  Carter 1  50 

Pandora — Mrs.  Salzscheider      - 100 

Percy,  or  the  Four  Inseparables— M.  Lee 100 

Personal  Impressions  of  Colorado  Grand  Canyon      -       .       -  1  OO 

Rudyard  Reviewed— W.J.  Peddicord 100 

Seven  Ages  of  Creation 2  50 

Some  Homely  Little  Songs— A.  J.  Waterhouse 1  25 

Songs  of  the  Soul— Joaquin  Miller 100 

Story  of  the  Innumerable  Company— David  Starr  Jordan       -       -  1  25 

Sugar  Pine  Murmurings— Eliz.  S.  Wilson 100 

Training  School  for  Nurses— A.  Mabie 50 

Without  a  Name— Poems— Edward  Blackmail  -----  l  00 

Wolves  of  the  Sea— Poems— Herbert  Bashford 1  00 

LATEST  ISSUES 

Interviews  with  a  Monocle —Leopold  Jordan      .....  50 

My  Trip  to  the  Orient— Rev.  J.  C.  Simmons             ....  150 

Rearing  Silkworms  — Mrs.  Carrie  Williams 1   25 

Western  View  Series,  No.  I  — San  Francisco  Views        -       -  15 

Western  View  Series,  No.  2  — Alaska  Views           ...        -  15 


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